Broom or brush bridle



B d o M o m No.570,927. Patented Now 10,1896.

UNITED STATES I PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS S. I'IANN, OF YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, 'ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM R.

HAMILTON, OF INDIANA, PENNSYLVANIA, AND ORLANDO W. ORAMP- 7 TON, OFHAMPSTEAD, MARYLAND.

BROOM OR BRUSH BRIDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 570,927, dated November10, 1896.

Application filed March 10, 1896- Serial No- 582,596. (No model.)

T 0 all whom it nuty concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS S. HANN, a citizen of the United States,residing at York, in the county of York and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Broom and Brush Bridles;and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to bridles for brooms and brushes and the like, andhas for its object to provide a simple construction of bridle which canbe readily applied and removed and which will admit of easy adjustmentback and forth on the broom or brush, so as to better fit the broom orbrush for heavy or light work, as may be required.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as mayhereinafter appear the invention consists in the construction andcombination of parts hereinafter particularly described, and then soughtto be specificallydefined by the claims, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, and in which Figure l is aperspective of the bridle; Fig. 2, aperspective of abroom, showingthebridle applied thereto, and also showing in dotted lines a mop appliedto the broom and secured thereto by the bridle.

In the drawings the numeral 1 designates the loop of the bridle, whichis designed to encircle orpass transversely across the straws orbristles of the broom or brush, so as to bind the same and regulate theflexibility or stiifness' of the broom or brush. This loop portion isformed on one side with a coil 2, which adds strength to the loop and atthe same time renders it more elastic than otherwise would be the case,said coil also serving as a means for suspending the broom or brush whennot in use.

The numerals 3 designate two arms, formed integrally with the loop andextending at right angles therefrom from about the middle portion of theloop, and at the point 4 are formed with offsets 5 by bending the armsoutwardly and inwardly, as shown. The arms near their outer ends arealso formed with offsets 6 by bending the wire outwardly and inwardly,and the outer ends of the two arms are bent inwardly, so as to form aloop adapted to encircle or straddle the handle of the broom or brush.

The purpose of the offsets 5 is to prevent the ring 7 from sliding alongthe two arms when the bridle is applied and the ring pressed below theoffsets next to the loop, so as to clamp the loop portion of the bridlearound the straws or bristles, and the purpose of the offsets 6 is toprevent the ring 8 from slipping down the arms when that ring is movedabove the offsets to clamp the outer ends of the arms about the broom orbrush handle. These rings securely clamp the bridle to the broom orbrush and prevent the spreading of the arms.

In the operation of applying the bridle the two rings 7 and 8 arepressed over the ofisets 5 and 6 and moved centrally toward each other,so as to permit expansion of the bridle, which is then applied byslipping the 7 loop portion 1 over the handle and down over the strawsor bristles, and so that the loop at the outer ends of the arms willencircle the handle, After the bridle has been adjusted to the positiondesired the ring 7 is pressed down below the offsets 5, so as to bindthe loop 1 around the straws or bristles, and the ring 8 ispressed abovethe ofisets 6, so as to bind the loop at the ends of the arms around thehandle and thus securely hold the bridle in position. When itis desiredto adjust the bridle, the rings 7 and 8 are moved away from the ofisets5 and 6, so as to loosen the parts, and the adjustment is then made,after which the rings are again moved into their clamping positions, asbefore mentioned. If it is desired to make the straws or bristles stiif,

the bridle is moved in the direction of the 5 When it is desired toapply a mop to the broom, the mop fabric is folded over the ends of thestraws, so as to bring a portion of the fabric on both sides of thebroom-straws, and the ends of the fabric then passed under the wirescomposing the loop 1, so as to lie between them and the straws, and thering 7 is then drawn down below the offsets 5, so as to bind the fabricto the head of the broom. The fabric may be so adjusted that a portionof it will lie loosely below the ends of the bristles if it be desiredto have that form of mop, but

if it be desired to have the fabric lie closely to the broom-head forthe purpose of dusting walls or ceilings the fabric will be drawnupward, so that its folds will lie close to the ends of the straws inthe broom-head.

In the drawings the numeral 9 designates the broom-head, and 10 thebroom-handle, while the fabric which forms the mop is designated indotted lines by the numeral 11.

The arms of the bridle as well as the loop which encircles thebroom-head and the coil made in that loop and the loop at the outer endof the arms are all formed of one piece of suitable stiff, spring-wire.By forming the arms 3 as a continuation of the loop 1 and providingmeans for clamping the loop to the broom-head and the arms to the handlethe bridle can be adjusted to any extent de sired along the broom-head,so as to get the required stiffness desired in the broom-head,

and the means which clamp the bridle in position are thus adjusted alongwith the bridle, so as to clamp the parts in whatever position thebridle may be placed. The construction also permits the straws orbristles to be clamped by the loop with equal firmness, no

, matter to what position the bridle be adjusted,

and in all adjustments the parts are so clamped that there can be noaccidental slipping of any part.

The bridle is comparatively inexpensive to make and is strong anddurable, and there being no free ends to the loop around the broom-headthere is no liability of the straws or bristles working their way out ofthe loop.

Having described my invention and set forth its merits, what I claimis 1. The broom or brush bridle consisting of the loop to encircle thestraws or bristles, the arms to extend along the handle, and means forclamping the loop to the broom or brush head and adjustable means forclamping the arms to the handle, the loop being made in one continuouspiece and merging into the arms, substantially as and for the purposesdescribed.

2. The broom or brush bridle consisting of the loop to encircle thebroom or brush head, the arms forming a continuation of said loop, andadapted to lie along the handle, and formed with offsets next to theloop and also wi th offsets next to the outer ends of the arms, a ringto bind the loop around the broom or brush head, and a ring to bind theouter ends of the arms to the handle, substantially as and for thepurposes described.

3. The broom or brush bridle consisting of the loop to encircle thebroom. or brush head and formed with a coil to stiffen the same andconstitute means for suspending the broom or brush, the arms formed as acontinuation of the loop and made with offsets at opposite ends andhaving a loop at its outer end to encircle the broom or brush handle,and rings adapted to be moved over the offsets at opposite ends of thearms to clamp the'loop to the broom or brush head and the arms to thehandle in ya rious adjustments of the bridle, substantially as and forthe purposes described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS S. HANN.

Witnesses:

JOHN F. SPRENKEL, WILLIAM ZINN.

